Fertilizer flow controller



Patented Oct. 12, 1954 FERTILKZER FLOW CONTROLLER Alvin W. Peck, Bart] Phillips Petroleum Delaware esville, Okla, assignor to Company, a corporation of Application November 19, 1951, Serial No. 257,151

Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for injecting fluid fertilizer into soil. In one aspect it relates to-an apparatus for regulating the flow of fluid fertilizer materials into the soil. In another aspect it relates to an apparatus for regulating the flow of fluid fertilizer into the soil and for promptly cutting off and starting the flow of fluid when the apparatus upon which the distributor system is mounted is stopped and started, respectively.

In tractor-mounted liquid fertilizer distributing equipment where the controls are in reach of the operator, the operator may cut off the flow of liquid fertilizer at the instant the tractor is stopped so that there will not be a continued flow of liquid with its resultant loss and overdosage. In large fertilizer distributing assemblies wherein the fertilizer distributor is a tractor drawn assembly the tractor operator upon bringing the tractor to a halt, must dismount from the tractor and walk to the distributor apparatus and turn a valve in order to stop the flow of liquid fertilizer. During this time interval liquid fertilizer is continuing to flow and to be injected into the ground at one point. This fertilizer which flows during this interval of time is of course a loss. And further, the continued injection of fertilizer into the ground during this interval of time in which the apparatus is not moving, overfertilizes the soil at this point with the result that many crops in the immediate vicinity of the overinjections will be burned.

One object of my invention is to devise an apparatus which is adaptable to stop the flow of fertilizer simultaneously with the halting of the apparatus. Another object or my invention is to devise an apparatus for the prevention of loss of liquid fertilizer during the starting and stopping operations. Another object of my invention is to devise an automatic fertilizer distributing apparatus which prevents overinjections of liquid fertilizer into the soil during periods of starting and stopping of the apparatus.

I have devised an apparatus which accomplishes the above mentioned and other objects in that the liquid fertilizer feeding apparatus closes off immediately upon stopping of the vehicle upon which the apparatus is mounted and starts the feeding operation immediately upon starting of the vehicle. In my apparatus an oil-pressure assembly controls a feed valve for opening and closing the flow of fertilizer upon starting and stopping of the apparatus.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the distributing flow controller of my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical elevational view of a 4-row liquid fertilizer distributor assembly mounted on a Z-Wheel vehicle. Figure 3 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Referring now to the drawing and specifically to Figure 1, this distributor flow controller ii is broadly a cylindrical vessel containing three compartments. The upper compartment is bounded by a'housing or shell i2, and a diaphragm l8. The lower compartment is bounded by a shell :4 and a rigid partition plate 23. The center compartment is bounded by a ring it, the diaphragm l8 and the partition plate 20. The housing i2 and the ring l 3 are held together by bolted flanges I5. Within this joint is disposed the diaphragm I8. On either side of the diaphragm H3 are disposed gaskets ll so as to make the upper and center compartments fluid tight. This upper compartment is provided with a pressure gauge 42 and two pipe connections 35 and 38. To theconnection 36 is attached a tube or pipe 3! while tube 39 is attached to the connections 38. Tube 39 is. provided with a needle valve 33. The lower section I 3 of this generally cylindrical vessel is attached to the ring i3 by the bolted flanges It. Between these flanges it is mounted the rigid partition plate 29 carrying gaskets Eta so that the bolted flanges it provide fluid tight connections with the plate 28. In the bottom of this lower section i4 is provided a valved pipe connection 21. On the inside of this pipe connection 2| is a bushing 22 which serves as a seat for valve 2d. The stem 23 of this valve 24 extends upward through a packing gland assembly 25 and terminates in substantial contact with the plate element l9 of the diaphragm 18. This packing gland assembly 25 is composed of a shell 25, packing 2B and a take-up nut 2'1. A bolted plate ii is provided around a portion of the periphery of element it to provide access for adjustment of the take-up nut 27 and bushing 22. The packing shell 26 is attached rigidly to the partition plate 28 by Welds 44 in such a manner that the joint between the shell 25 and the plate 28 is fluidtight. At the upper end of the valve stem 23 is a key inserted through the end of the valve stem 23. Immediately under this pin it is a washer-45 to hold a compression spring 29 on the top of shell 2-8. This compresison spring tends to bias the valve head Ed in a closed posi tion when no downward presure is being exerted on diaphragm i8. This diaphragm l8 and diaphragm plate 13 are so intended to operate that when fluid pressure is exerted in housing I2 the diaphragm and plate will be moved slightly in a downward direction against the end of the valve stem 23 to cause the valve head 24 to open.

Tube 31 is an oil inlet tube for the introduction of oiliiunder pressure into the space above the diaphragm' l8: Tube 39 is for the flow of oil from this space. The needle valve 43 is for adjustment or restriction of the flow of oil through tube 39 so as to maintain aagiven or. predetermined oil pressure in this upper compartment. Tubes 33 and 35' arefertilizer distributor tubes for carrying liquid fertilizer-from this distributing element to points of injection into the soil. Opening 43 and asimilar opening:

in the cut-away half of Figure 1 are additional openings for insertion of tube connections similar to elements 32 and 34 for transmission of liquid fertilizer. to additional pointsof fertilizer: injection in case a l-pint injection apparatus is' used. Elements 32 and '34 are preferablymeter ing elementsend they are so chosen that. the diameter of the conduits :th'erethrough permit the desiredi rate of...fiow ofifertilizer; In case soil is being fertilized which is quite deficient in nitrogen. these. elements'32 and 34 should containmetering orifices of larger diameter than when :soil to be fertilized requires 'less nitrogen and needs onlya slight fertilizer treatment.

This r distributingv flow controller assembly "is intended to operate in'such a manner that when the vehicle upon which'it is mounted starts to moveoil' enters the upper chamber through tube 31-andtexit fromthis chamber is restricted by the'needle valve'43 in sucha manner that a predetermined-'pressure'is' maintained inthis compartment. This pressure forces the plate l9 downward against the 'upperen'd of the valve stem 23 and'fcompresses the compressicnlspring 29 to open the valve; The pipe connection 21 carrying the valve 24 attached to a' source of i supplytof :liquid fertilizer." Whenthevalve 24 is open liquid:.:fertilizer flowsiiaround valve 24 into the lower distributor compartment and the fertilizer then flows out through the several distributor tubes 33 and 35. When the vehicle upon which this assembly is imounted'is *stopped oil ceases to enter into the :upper chamber through the line 3? iandtthe needle .valve- 43i'permits'iinstant reduction of pressure with the result that compression; spring "29 :lifts :the valve stem: 23 to close the valvie=24 to .furtherinlet ofLfluid. Thus the apparatus is.closed:tolthel further flow of liquid fertilizer. Inrconstructing such. an apparatus as illustrated ini'Figure il the apparatusis relatively small and the actual volume of liquid fertilizer containedin the lower and distributing compartment is very, very-small.

Referring now to Figure 2 of the drawingthere. is illustrated a two-wheele'dvehicle mountingmy x liquid distributor system. The liquid fertilizer, such. as anhydrous ammonia, is stored in .'a pres-:

sure tank 5|. Aliquid outlet .line :65- conducts;

liquid from this pressure tank tothe bottomtof.

the-distributor control-element H aroundlthe va1ve24-as shown in- Figural. Manually. operable valve 61 is shown inline 56 so thatthe liquid may beaclosed ofi at such times when the appa-- ratus is. not in use, for example, during'anover-i night period: Element 52.

fromthe pump 53 iiowsrthrough the line 31 into thectoplsectionz oflthezdistributor. element Hp is an .oil' reservoir which supplies .oil to apressures-pumpt53u. Oil.

Oil from this distributor returns through line 39 to the reservoir 52. The needle valve 43 as mentioned hereinbefore is intended to throttle the flow of oil through tube 39 so as to provide oil 5 pressure in the upper compartment of element H. The oil pressure pump 53 is operated by a take-off assembly 54 which is operated by the shaft 55' 'from -a wheel 68 of. the avehicler This take-off assembly 54 is illustrated as being a belt driven assembly but it may be a gear driven assembly or other suitable power take-off means. Frame 5'! isthe frame work assembly of this vehicle and upon this frame work assembly is mounted the several"- parts of the distributor ap- *paratus: Reference numeral 56 refers to the soil into which the ammonia fertilizer is to be injected.- Elements 58, 59, E and BI are shoes of more or less conventional type in the center of which are-openings throughout their length. A flexible tube 62 leads from the controller distrib'utor apparatus :1 1 through the shoe -58. This tube/62 terminates-ht about. :theebottom end ofthe shoe 5% and is below-the surface of the ground toabe fertilized. Extending throughshoe 5a :is a correspondingctube 63. In lilietmannerineshoe- 50 is providedatube t l andin ShOGrEl is a-cor responding tube 65;

Figure? is :a sideelevational. view I ofathe "asesembly'of Figured. This side-elevation shows? the particular positioning of the shoes- 58, 59,150 and'fil' and ofathe'corresponding tubes 62, 63,54 and therein for introduction of fertilizer inton the soil. Referenceznurneral. 55 again =referst0- the'soil. Ahitchapparatus-ill is for connection of this vehicle :to atractor or other primermoverused for moving this apparatus.- Element 82 is a conventional. adjustment device the rctationof which:lowers the shoes into the'groundfurther or raises them:to .ashallower deptha as desired.

In theapparatus as-illust-rated and described: above :I have -:shown-lthe assemblyi'as a r4-tubeine jection-assembly; that is,:4--rows maybe fertilized during, on. passage of the apparatus. Wherrintroducing fertilizer. between crop .rows which are relatively close together the apparatus may be:- provided with any; desired number of :distrbutor tubes such astubes 62,. 63,. fi l-and 65.. For-textample there-may :beprovided' I 2 or I 6 shoes with: correspondingflexible distributor tubes. For: example :when fertilizing a wheat ficldlin which the: rows of graint-are relatively close together such an apparatus containing; 16 points of injectionimay be used; When fertilizing cotton or corn 3.2185531! number-of injection points can. be used in: a vehicle ofigivenwidthubecause therews. of such crops areplanted farther apart than are 1 wheat rows.

As mentioned above in the explanation of the operation of the distributor control element of Figure-i when the-:vehicle stopsthe pump-53 ceases to furnish oil: under pressure :to thezdiarphragm l8 and needlevalve 43 permits :bleed-off of pressure-and the compression spring-23 closes the valve 24 :and'. therloss; of: fertilizer. is .eliminated.- In like :manner. when. the apparatus is started-fluid fertilizer .does not pass valveii l until; oil pressure .is :built 1 up against. the diaphragm plate I S sufficiently (to open. the valve .24...

In. Figure x4 is. shown; a-preferredembodiment. of-my ammonia distributor i apparatus. Accorde. ing ;to ,the figure; the\ housingyorlbody .consists. of an upperzbody memberhet, a.-lower body .me ber 92 and =ai=depending 'valveehead housinggorcase: 00m Disposed; between'the:bodyjmembers iszaidiaphragm;.93,=- as shown. To-the underside.

' to tube 31 of Figure 1.

of the diaphragm is attached, as by means of a cotter key I I16 a valve I04. The lower end ID! of the valve stem is tapered. On the large diameter end of this taper section I! is a head IEII containing a resilient sealing member I02. De-' pending from the under side of the valve head is a guide rod I I I. Surrounding this guide member II I is a ring III) of resilient material which in turn is surrounded by a metal ring I09. Holding this support assembly in its proper relation with respect to the guide rod III are some radially disposed arms I88. These arms I28 are attached to the inner walls of the case I80 by any means as desired, as by welding, or etc. The case I00 may be attached to the lower body member 92 by threads H5. An O-ring seal we surrounds valve stem I04 to prevent orto minimize leakage of ammonia into the spacein the lower housing 52 below the diaphragm 93. The bottom of the lower housing member 92 is so shaped as to serve as a seat I 63 against which the resilient member I92 seats when the diaphragm and valve are raised by a compresison spring IIJ when fluid pressure is reduced in the phragm 93.

Connected to the upper housing member 9| are a pair of pipe connections 95 and 91. To connection 95 is attached a tube 94 which is equivalent To connection 91 is attached a tube 95 carrying a needle valve 93, which tube and valve are equivalent, respectively to elements 39 and 43 of Figure 1. A pressure gage 99 is for indication of oil pressure above the diaphragm.

Connections ill and I I8 are metering connections similar to elements 32 and 34 of Figure 1. To connections H7 and H8 are connected tubes H2 and II 3, respectively, for conveyance of ammonia from this distributor apparatus to shoe elements similar to shoes 586I of Figure 3.

Connection H4 is for passage of ammonia from its storage tank to this distributor.

' The operation of the apparatus of Figure 4, is in general, similar to the operation of the Figure 1 distributor. Oil under pressure from a reservoir and pump flows through tube 94 and connection 95 into the space above the diaphragm 93. Needle valve 93 in the outlet tube 96 is adjusted to hold a desired working pressure of oil upstream of this valve as indicated on gage 99. When the apparatus is not in operation, i. e., when the mounting vehicle is not traveling there is no pressure above the diaphragm and the compression spring H6 operates to move the diaphragm 93 upward with the resultant closing of the valve Ifii.

When the vehicle is moving, some oil pressure is registered on the gage cs according to the adjustment of valve 98. With this valve adjustment maintained fixed, and the vehicle moves at a more rapid rate, a greater pressure is exerted on the diaphragm 93 with the result that the valve i0! is pushed downward farther. The taper section Iii? of the valve is then intended to allow passage of more ammonia than when the valve (and taper section) is not depressed to such an extent by the diaphragm. Thus, it is seen that the taper section It? is intended to throttle the flow of ammonia from its storage tank to this distributor, flow being greater when the vehicle is moving at a faster rate.

The O-ring sealing member I is intended to prevent appreciable leakage of ammonia to the under side of the diaphragm. Since the oil above the diaphragm 93 is usually at a temperature space above the diaabove the boiling point of liquid ammonia, free access of the ammonia to the under side of the diaphragm is undesirable. It is preferred that the major portion of the ammonia be injected into the soil as liquid ammonia, and consistent with this preference, there should be as little evaporation of ammonia in the distributor as possible.

The materials of construction of this apparatus may be selected from those commercially available taking into account corrosive properties of the fluid fertilizer being handled. In case liquid ammonia is the liquid fertilizer used ordinary materials of commerce may be used since anhydrous ammonia is not generally corrosive.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been described for illustrative purposes, the invention obviously is not limited thereto.

I claim:

1. A distributing flow controller for distributing fluid from a common source comprising, in combination, a generally cylindrical vessel, a rigid partition plate disposed normal to the axis of said vessel and closer to one end than to the other, a flexible diaphragm disposed normal to the axis of the vessel and closer to the other end than to said one end, a valve seat disposed in said one end of said vessel, a valve having a head and a stem and said head being in operable relation with said seat, an opening in the center of said rigid partition plate, the stem of said valve extending through said opening and terminating in operable contact with said flexible diaphragm, a packing gland surrounding said valve stem, said gland being connected to said rigid partition plate in a fluid-tight manner, a pipe connection surrounding said valve seat and connected to said vessel for inlet of fluid to be distributed, a plurality of distributor pipe connections in said vessel between the inlet pipe connection and said rigid partition plate, each of said distributor pipe connections having an orifice of suitable size to control the flow of fluid therethrough, a pair of pipe connections in the other end of said vessel and a compression spring biasing said valve in a closed position with respect to its seat.

2. A distributing flow controller for distributing fluid from a common source comprising, in combination, a liquid-tight vessel, a flexible diaphragm disposed normal to the axis of. the vessel, a valve seat disposed near one end of said vessel, a valve having a stem of said valve terminating in operable contact with said flexible diaphragm, a pipe connection connected to the valve end of said vessel and surrounding said valve seat for inlet of fluid to ,be distributed, a plurality of distributor pipe said vessel between said valve,

connections in and said flexible diaphragm, each or" said distributor pipe connections having an orifice of suitable size to control the flow of fluid therethrough, a pair of pipe connections in the other end of said vessel and a compression spring biasing said valve in a closed position with respect to its seat.

3. An implement-mounted dispensing system for the direct application of ammonia to soil comprising, in combination, a wheeled vehicle adapted to travel along the ground, a cultivator shoe attached to said vehicle, said shoe being adapted at its lower extremity to produce a furrow in the ground as the vehicle is moved forward, a liquid ammonia storage tank rigidly head and a stem and said head being in operable relation with said seat, the

mounted.omsaidwehicle, awnormallwclosed.diaa

phragm operatedv Walt/TB eassembly having a diuid:

said zfluid inlet connection-1 andrleading; from said ammonia-storage tank, a-ivalve having a head and a stem, said head being disposed in operable.

relationwith respect to said seat-within saidrfluid inlet connection and said stem being-.operabhr attached to saiddiaphragm for imparting -,movement togsaid. valvehead; a tube leading from the outlet-:connectionof.said lvalve to a point near thetlower. extremity of saidshoe. for applying ammonia-to .thesoil, anv oil storage reservoir. and

an-oil pump, mounted on, said vehicle, a conduit leading from saidoil. storage reservoir to the in-.-

let sidenofssaidupump, .a conduit leading from the pressure outlet side of said pump to the -.-diaphragmt valve. assembly -onrthe (side :of the diaphragm opposite \thesvalve. stem, the diaphragm being-adapted .tolopen saidyalve upon. =a..prede-.

termined oil pressureiromlsaid pump, aipowerl take-01f on said vehicle .for-operating,said pump v when. the ,vehicleis. moving ,in a .forward. direction, and- .annoil returnv linelfrom .thediaphragm side oflthe diaphragm.v

valve assembly; on. theoppcsite said. valve stem to the .oil storage res-. ervoin- 4 4... An implement-mounted, dispensing system fortheldirect application of ammonia tosoil.com-. prising,=incombination acwheeledvehicle adapted to travel lalong the;

atits lowerlextremityatonproduce a furrowin the. ground assthe vehicle is moved forward, a.- liquid ammonia storage= tankurigidly; mounted" on said vehicle a: normally closed diaphragm op:

eratedcvalvaassembly having afluid inlet connection and a fluid outletconnectionanda flexible diaphragm a .valve sea-t in and ,concentric with saidtfiuiduinletconnection, a conduit attached tov said -fiuid inlet connectiontandr leading from said ammoniatstorageatank, valve having a head-,andna stem,. saidvalve being? disposed in. operable-relation- With and concentric with said seat and said inlet connection, theastem of said.

valvebeing" operatively attached. to said: diaph sinhead, a tube leading iromthe outletconnection of said valvetto a'point near of said :shoefor applyingammonia to the soil,

valve upona predetermined oil pressure from ground,. aa cultivator. shoe attached to said vehicle, said shoeibeing adapted" for impartingr-movementto the valve the lower extremity i to 1 travel 1 alongthe: ground; a:

saidopumpg:gaepowerztakeeofi zoni:said ivehicle-rfor;- operating saidpump whenvthe-t-vehic'le ismoving; iniaiorward direction, and an: oil returnzlinedrem: the-diaphragm valve-1assemb1y:,-on.the side of the.

'- diaphragm opposite-said valverstem' touthesoil;

storage reservoir:

5.' An implementemountedt dispensing;- systems. for the direct application of ammonia-to soil comapris'ing;in combinatiomawheeled vehicle adapted: cultivator-rshoez" attached tovsaid'v vehicle, esaidzshoe 'beingmdapted: at it's lowercxtremitytovproduce a furrow-.inzth'ee ground as the vehlcleis moved forward-sat liquid:- ammonia storage :tank .rigidlyirmounted. :onzssaid';

- vehicle;va.- normally closed diaphragm: operated;

valve :assemblyihaving:a'housin'g and asfiuidrinletr connection: and-Jan :outle't iconnection ;at one and: of said-housing; a .valve seat:intandlzuconcentricc with said 3 fluid. inlet'l connection; A aaconduit': at-:- tached ztoisaidfluid :inlet conneotionrandzleadingz from:saidtammoniaistoragetank; a:vaive:having: ahead and eastern; said .valve rbeingmisposedint: operable .relation' with :said 'seat,.:a -plane and rigidf partition disposed. fwithin' said housingriclcser 'toi the valve end than to the other end, the-plane: of zsaid partition .beingin'ormal to: theaxis of. ithe stemzof tsaid valveg" an opening-in said: partition;

said valve stem-extending 1 through said opening a-packing gland assembly disposed in '-said-open'-* ing andfixed in a rigid andgas-tight manner to said: partition; and z'operativelv" aroundsaid valve stem; azflexiole diaphragm irrsaid housing 'n'oflmalitothe axis :of "said valve stem said valve stem" being operatively attached to said diaphragm; said diaphragm being disposed closer-totheother end: of said housingthan to the-valveend-yamaiW of pipe connections in the other end of said nous ingg-an oil'containing reservoir and an oil pres sure pump mountedon said "vehicle; a-conduit leading-from said reservoir to the inltofsaid References Cited -in the file of thispatent UNITED STATESPATENTS Number Name 1- Date 1,038,084 Carroll F wSept; 10,1912." 2,076,566 Isbell ..Apr.-. 13,1937. 2,475,686 Anderson Ju1y .12,l 1949 2,594,284 7 Blue Apr-.1 29,. 1952 OTHER REFERENCES Agricultural Engineering: for September'"1947 (ipages 394-396 Machinery for 'Applying'Anhy'- drous Ammonia to theSoili); 

